Out of all the isolate protein powders on the market, Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate has earned a particular spot on our list of best protein powders. Though introduced late, it has gained massive popularity among beginners over the years.
Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Protein-The Company/Brand
ON has been successfully operational for more than 30 years selling Gold Standard Whey Protein. The brand has a long history of making great supplements that work in every way. Its famous brand has served thousands of professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts with optimal results.
Table of Contents
The company aims to provide superior products with high-quality ingredients.
Product Line
The brand is involved in various health products based on weight gain, strength, endurance, advanced fitness, energy, etc. They produce all three kinds of whey; Concentrate, Isolate, and Hydrolysate.
To name a few products:
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
- Optimum Nutrition Hydro Whey Protein Isolate
- Protein Drink
- Gold Standard 100% Isolate
- Gainer, PRO
- Creatine Powder
- Gainer in the Gold Standard
- Glutamine Powder
An Overview
This product is well-priced and has great macronutrients for the wellness space. Over the years, it has maintained its reputation by producing gold-standard whey with various flavors. Moreover, each scoop contains 25g of protein that instantly blends with milk or water. The brand also has a good track record with third-party testers. It also shows the product contains 80% pure protein per serving.
Optimum Nutrition 100 Whey Protein Isolate is a high-quality hydrolyzed and ultra-filtered whey blend to improve lean muscle growth. Moreover, it is naturally rich in BCAAs, EAAs, glutamic acid, and glutamine. It happens to support endurance and post-workout recovery. Also, this product is gluten-free and highly suitable for vegetarians.
The consistency of powder has a smooth texture that gets easily mixed by using just a glass and a spoon. It comes in various flavors, including double-rich chocolate, chocolate bliss, rich vanilla, and chocolate ice cream. In addition to this, the product’s packaging also varies according to its different sizes.
If you are sensitive to lactose, with ON 100% Whey, you will not bloat with Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate. It dissolves easily in water and tastes very good though I find some of the flavors too sweet. I recommend using this as an add-on to a healthy diet.
The product is best used for muscle support and post-workout recovery. It can be consumed 60 minutes after your workout regime to boost your balanced diet. It is a banned substance tested to ensure you get a safe-to-consume product. Hence, it has been trusted by well-known athletes like Bajrang Punia, Jade Jones, and Tammy Abraham for the past 35 years.
Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate is a blend of hydrolyzed and ultra-filtered whey. On the other hand, Dymatize ISO 100 Whey Protein has a blend of only hydrolyzed whey. Both products compete with the others.
Regarding Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein’s nutritional facts, 31g of scoop has 25g of protein, 0.5g of fat, and 1g of carbohydrate.
And the cost of a 5 lb Double-Rich Chocolate pack is $105 for a 67-serving pack, which means 105/67 = 1.56 cents per serving.
As against this Dymatize ISO 100 Whey Protein, it has a 30g scoop containing 25g of protein, 1g of carb, and 0g of fat.
But it costs $86.17 for a 5-pound pack of chocolate flavor for a 71-serving pack, which means 86.17/71 = 1.21 cents per serving.
Therefore, there is a difference of $0.35 for a scoop. The global ratings on Amazon are 77% five stars, and it gets a 4.6 out of 5, whereas the Dymatize ISO 100 gets 85% 5-star ratings and a 4.7 out of 5.
On the other hand, both products have 5.5g of naturally occurring BCAAs.
Ingredients and Nutritional Value
- 1 level scoop (31g) serving size
- Calories per serving: 110
- 0.5 g total fat
- Sodium-190mg
- Carbohydrates -1g
- Protein-25g
Thus, the ingredient lists show the products are lower in calories, carbs, and fat compared to other brands in the market.
Pros & Cons
Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate has several health benefits for muscle protein synthesis. Also, it has a fast-recovery process that helps in muscle building after training.
Pros
- High-quality whey protein isolate with 25g of protein per serving
- Low in calories, carbs, fat, sodium, and cholesterol
- Easy to mix and digest
- Affordable and popular with many customers
- Comes in a variety of flavors to suit different preferences
- 25g of high-quality protein
- Gluten-free to suit all types of bodies
- No sucralose
- Over 5g of BCAAs
- More than 80% of the protein
- Tested for prohibited substances
Cons
- Contains artificial flavors and sweeteners
- Not a pure whey isolate (contains partially hydrolyzed whey isolate)
- Some flavors may be too sweet or bland for some people
- May cause some digestive issues for people with lactose intolerance
- May not be suitable for people with soy allergies
Usage Occasion
Though we suggest you can take it at any time of the day, taking it at the following times I feel more energized.
- First thing in the morning
- Before or after the workout
Tough competitors
With so many leading health and nutrition brands in the market, Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate has also faced similar competition from other brands. To name a few:
- Dymatize ISO 100 Whey Protein Isolate
- NOW Sports Nutrition, Whey Protein Isolate
- Protein Powder Isopure Whey Isolate
Conclusion
Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein is one of the trusted meal replacements experienced by lifters, athletes, and bodybuilders. The product has received more than 10,000 positive reviews and counting on Amazon. It’s a well-made protein supplement at a fair price and is easily digestible. With so many unique flavors on hand, you will never run out of options.
Optimum nutrition whey protein isolates Chocolate Bliss is my favorite. However, Rich Vanilla and Strawberry Cream are popular flavors, with an average rating of 9.1 out of 10. So, regarding price vs. quality, it stands apart from most leading brands in the market.
